An archival social and technological history of 21st Century mineral processing. Barry Wills of MEI presents news and views on mineral processing, as well as occasionally indulging his passions for travel, outdoor activities, geology, history and Cornwall.

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

If you are based in Falmouth, I can thoroughly recommend this 7.5 mile hike, which Barbara and I undertook last Sunday. Although only a stone's throw from Falmouth, it is a 24 mile drive to the starting point at the Nare Hotel at Carne Beach, unless you take the short cut by ferry across the River Fal from Feoch.

Gerrans Bay

With a total elevation gain of 1120 feet, this is classed as 'Challenging', but you will be rewarded by great cliff scenery around the 310 feet high Nare Head.

Looking back to Carne Beach

Gull Rock

As we left Gerrans Bay and climbed to the top of Nare Head, I got my first view of Gull Rock in Veryan Bay in 37 years! It was a familiar sight in the mid 1970s when I would regularly come out by boat with the Camborne School of Mines diving club, to collect wonderful white scallops in the deep gullies, and dive on the wreck of the German steel barque Hera, which struck Gull Rock in 1914.

After 4.5 miles of hard walking we reached the small fishing village of Portloe, where we had a quick drink at the Ship Inn, before taking the short cut across country lanes back to Carne.